New Delhi: Colourful lights decked up buildings and diyas (earthen lamps) dotted houses as people across the country celebrated Diwali with great enthusiasm on Thursday.
In the national capital, the air quality continued to deteriorate, remaining in the ‘very poor’ category, with levels expected to worsen to the ‘severe’ category due to bursting of firecrackers at night.
Keeping up his tradition of celebrating the festival with soldiers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sir Creek near the Indo-Pak border in Gujarat’s Kutch district and offered sweets to jawans.
Modi said India cannot compromise on even an “inch” of land on its borders, adding the people believe in the strength of its armed forces for defending the country.
“In the past, attempts were made to turn this region into a battlefield. The enemy has set its eyes on this region for a long time. But we are not worried as you are guarding the nation. Our enemy also knows it well,” he asserted.
“People of India feel their country is safe because of you; when the world sees you, it sees India’s strength, when enemies see you, they see the end of their sinister plans,” the prime minister said, addressing personnel of the Border Security Force, Army, Navy and Air Force.
He also said that “we see the Army, Navy and Air Force as different entities, but their strength will increase manifold when they come together.”
As the country is moving fast towards the goal of developed India, “you all are protectors of this dream,” Modi told the soldiers.
One of the most popular Hindu festivals, Diwali is associated with the day Lord Ram is believed to have returned to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman after defeating demon king Ravana during his 14 years in exile. The festival is seen as a celebration of the victory of good over evil
